International Expert Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the Financing for sustainable-development-office" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Sustainable Development Office (FSDO) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). The FSDO is dedicated to advancing policy and action on financing for sustainable development, supporting Member States and stakeholders in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development. The office provides thought leadership, promotes multistakeholder dialogue, identifies policy options and best practices, and offers advice and support for capacity development in key areas. The FSDO is involved in various projects aimed at localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enhancing infrastructure systems across multiple countries. More information can be found at their official website: https://financing.desa.un.org/.

Job Overview:
The position of International Expert Consultant is crucial for the implementation of the UN DESA project titled 'Localizing the SDGs through more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure (Phase 2)'. This project aims to strengthen the capacity of local and national governments in six countries to effectively plan, manage, and sustain resilient infrastructure systems. The consultant will be responsible for conducting an analysis of the fiscal, administrative, and political decentralization frameworks in the participating countries, which include Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Kenya, the Gambia, and the Federated States of Micronesia. The consultant's work will focus on institutionalizing infrastructure asset management (IAM) practices and developing enabling policy frameworks for sustainable infrastructure development. The expected outcomes of this role include improved IAM practices, institutionalized training programs, and enhanced resilience and sustainability of infrastructure systems. The consultant will also engage with government counterparts to adapt project interventions to each country's specific governance and decentralization context.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key responsibilities under the supervision of the Senior Economic Affairs Officer, including:

• Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the fiscal, administrative, and political decentralization frameworks in the six project countries, focusing on how responsibilities for infrastructure planning, financing, maintenance, and asset management are distributed among different levels of government.
• Reviewing the overall project document and assessing how its interventions can be implemented to maximize sustained institutional impact at the local government level. This includes evaluating diagnostic assessments, Asset Management Action Plans (AMAPs), enabling environment activities, and training programs.
• Developing a concise implementation strategy that aligns project activities with country-specific governance arrangements and incentive structures, identifying practical mechanisms to encourage the adoption of best practices in infrastructure asset management.
• Participating in virtual meetings with government counterparts to present the proposed implementation strategy and discuss adaptations to the project’s interventions based on each country’s unique governance and decentralization context.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in civil engineering, urban development, economics, infrastructure asset management, public administration, or a related field. Additionally, a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in infrastructure, infrastructure asset management, local economic development, or public sector capacity development is required. Extensive hands-on experience working with subnational and municipal authorities in developing country contexts is essential, along with a strong understanding of local governance systems, administrative processes, and political economy dynamics. Candidates should also have demonstrated field-based experience supporting government counterparts in the design and implementation of infrastructure or asset management systems, particularly in capacity-constrained environments. Knowledge of public sector institutions and infrastructure systems in one or more of the specified countries is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as civil engineering, urban development, economics, infrastructure asset management, public administration, or a related discipline. This advanced education is critical for understanding the complexities of infrastructure systems and the necessary management practices.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in areas related to infrastructure, infrastructure asset management, local economic development, or public sector capacity development. Candidates should have extensive experience working with subnational and municipal authorities in developing countries, demonstrating a strong grasp of local governance systems and the dynamics of political economy. Field-based experience in supporting government counterparts in the design and implementation of infrastructure or asset management systems is also essential, particularly in environments where capacity may be limited.

Languages:
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but English is the primary language required for effective communication and documentation.

Additional Notes:
The position is home-based and is expected to last for a duration of 12 months. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training. The organization also does not request information regarding applicants' bank accounts.